Side release table for servicing railroad vehicles and the like



June 2, 1953 c. c. GRIFFITHS sIDE RELEASE TABLE FOR SERVICING RAILROADVEHICLES AND THE LIKE 3 sheetsqsheet 1 Filed April 13, 1950 7 I I vl'llll v ZNVENTOR.

cams 0. Grimm ATTORN EY J n 1953 c. c. GRIFFITHS 2,540,435

SIDE RELEASE TABLE FOR SERVICING RAILROAD VEHICLES AND THE LIKE FiledApril 15, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 F! G 4 I INVENTOR.

Clyde 0. Griffifhs 'ATTORNEY Patented June 2, 1 953 SIDE RELEASE TABLEFOR SERVICING RAILROAD VEHICLES AND THE LIKE Clyde 0. Griifiths, Harvey,11]., assignor to Whiting Corporation, a corporation of IllinoisApplication April 13, 1950, Serial No. 155,659

8 Claims.

This invention is directed to apparatus for servicing the running gearof railway vehicles and the like.

In large railway shops it is customary to install drop table devices foruse in removing trucks, axle assemblies, and similar sub-assemblies fromrailway vehicles. In most instances such installations require theconstruction of a relatively deep pit extending transversely to railwayvehicle tracks and the provision of heavy, relatively expensive droptable apparatus for operation in the pit. Experience has shown that droptable installations are highly efficient and that their expense is welljustified in a relatively large railway vehicle repair shop, provided ofcourse that the soil conditions are such as to permit the constructionof a deep pit.

There is a need, however, for simple, inexpensive, and easily installedapparatus for performing the same function, but particularly adapted foruse in smaller shops, or in areas where soil conditions do not permitutilization of deep pits. I

One of the important objects of my 1nvention is the provision of aneasily installed, eflicient, and inexpensive apparatus of the typedescribed, which is particularly useful in connection with fixed bodysupports for servicing the running gear of railway vehicles and thelike. More specifically, the objects of this invention include theprovision of a side release table of the shallow pit type particularlyadapted to operate in conjunction with fixed body supports andincorporating means on the table movable transversely with respect tothe table for lifting the vehicle body by the application of force tothe vehicle jacking pads on the body; and means cooperating with thelifting means, the vehicle body, and the body support devices forreleasing the lifting means after the support device has been moved intoengagement with the vehicle bod Oiher important objects of thisinvention, as well as many of its outstanding advantages will bedisclosed in the course of the following description and in the appendeddrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a partially sectioned elevation of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a partially broken away plan view of my side release table;

Fig. 3 is a partially broken away, partial side elevation of thisdevice;

Fig. 4 is a partially sectioned elevation of a jack suitable for usewith my device;

Fig. 5 is a partially broken away elevation of a stirrup adapted forengagement with the top of a jack; and r Fig. 6 is a cross section takenalong the lines 66 of Fig. 5.

In brief, this apparatus includes a relatively light wheeled table,usually of rectangular shape, adapted for movement along rails disposedin the bottom of a shallow pit, usually constructed in the floor of arailway repair shop and extending transversely to the vehicle tracks onthe floor. Rail sections are carried by the table for alignment with thetracks in such manner as to bridge the pit and permit passage of avehicle when desired. Near the point at which the pit and vehicle tracksintersect, I provide body support devices, preferably extending over thepit and adapted to support a railway vehicle body, or the like, inelevated position.

On the table I provide a pair of telescoping jacks which extend upwardlythrough the table and are provided with bases, which are normally heldby resilient means out of engagement with the floor of the pit. As aload is applied to the jacks, as by engagement with the vehicle body,the resilient means yield sufficiently to permit the base of each of thetwo jacks to come into contact with the pit floor, thus relieving thetable of a major portion of the load. The jacks are movably mounted onsupport means extending parallel to the direction of movement of thetable, thus permitting servicing of vehicles which have jacking pads invarious locations. Means are also provided for moving the table whilethe jacks are in engagement with the vehicle body, thereby permittingtransverse adjustment or movement of a truck or axle assembly inposition on the table. To permit release of the jacks, stirrups areprovided, each having a wall opening for engagement with the movablehead of the jack and a side opening for engagement with the support armsslidably mounted in the vehicle support girders. Thus the jacks areutilized to raise the vehicle body until the arms can be moved inwardlyinto engagement with the stirrups, the jacks thereafter lowered and theside release table carrying the released truck or axle assembly movedtransversely from beneath the vehicle.

As illustrated in greater detail by the drawings, the table, generallydesignated Ill, includes a pair of parallel, relatively heavy I-beams llextending laterally across the table It] and spaced to receive railsections l2 in proper position for alignment with vehicle tracks 13. Thebeams II are conwith a bevel pinion 36.

3 nected at each end by parallel tranverse channel members I4, which arein turn connected at their extremities by channel members l5. Ifdesired, a floor I! may be provided extending over the tops of themembers I4 and i8.

Rail wheels i8 are secured to axles 19, which are in. turn journaled inthe parallel channel members somewhat inwardly from the end channelmembers 16 and are spaced for movement along rails 21 mounted in thefloor of a shallow pit 22, which extends transversely with respect tothe rails I3. Approximately at the transverse center line of the tableIn, I provide spaced channel-shaped jack support members 23 extendinglaterally between the I-beams H and the end channel members I6. Jacks,generally designated 24, are provided with heavy bases 26, which extenddownwardly between the members 23 for engagement with the floor of thepit 22 whena load is applied to the jacks 25.

The jacks are two in number; and at least one,'and preferably both, aremounted for transverse movement. Each of the jacks includes arigid'housing'Z'l, which extends upwardly through the floor I1 and isprovided with an internal plate or guide 28, which engages a lifting bar29, the

latter being polygonal in cross section and extending through an openingof corresponding shape formed in the plate 28. A telescoping jack headHis fitted slidably into the upper end of the housing 27 and engages thelifting bar 29 in such manner as to 'move upwardly and downing formed ina bevel gear 33 supported in the housing 21 by suitable bearings 34 andmeshing The pinion 36 is secured to a pinion shaft 31 journaled in thehousing 2'! and secured at its outer end to a universal joint 3 8, theopposite end of the joint engaging a splined shaft 39, which is in turnsecured at its opposite end to auniversal joint 4|. The joint El is alsoconnected to a shaft 42 extending transversely [of the table H] to agear box 43, which is driven by a suitable motor 44 mounted on the frameof the table II).

j The base '28 extends downwardly between the 5501: support? members 23and is resiliently sup- .ported thereon in such manner that under normalconditionswthe base 26 is held in raised position away from .the floorof the pit 22. The

support. members 23. Wheels 48 are journaled to the outer end of thearms it and engage the jack support members 23.

Springs .49 engage the housing 2! and rods the opposite ends of which.are. secured to. the arms 46. The strength. .of. these springsisadjusted in such manner that -..the bases 26 of. the jacks 24 .arenormally held .upwardly. away from-the pit floor andbetween the axles l9and the channel members 16. V

A nut 52 is securedto the table In and receives transversely extendingthreaded screw 53, one

end of which preferably projects transversely belyond the channel memberIS. The opposite end 'bf'the'screwbs is rotatably secured to the base 26in such manner that rotation of the screw'53 Will move the table IDtransve'rseiyaiong its" "rails 4 2| when the jack 24 is loaded and thebase 26 is in engagement with the floor of the pit 22.

In many instances the table 10 may be moved manually along the rails 2|,or by utilization of a lever and ratchet mechanism acting on the axlesIt. However, if the contemplated loads are large and the distance to betraversed is relatively great, power means may be employed. For example,a spring-tensioned electric cable reel 54 may be mounted on the table l0and receives a cable 56, one end of which may be connected to a suitablesource of electric power. The cable 58 suppliescurrent to the motor 44and to a second motor 57 carried by the table to and connected to a gearbox 58. The output shaft of the gear box 58 drives a sprocket and chainassembly 59 secured to one of the axles IS, the latter also beingconnected by a suitable sprocket and chain assembly 6!. A motor controldevice 62 is mounted on the tablev and connected in suitable manner forcontrol of the motors 44 and 51, both of which should be reversible. v

Four pillars 63 resting on the floor on either side of the pit 22support longitudinal parallel girders 64 on opposite sides of the trackl3. The girders 64 extend across the pit Z2 and slidably supporttransversely extending arms 65, which may suitably be generallycylindrical in shape, but provided with a fiat upper surface to preventrotation of the arms inthe girders. The arms 66 extend inwardly towardsthe body lof a vehicle 61 at a predetermined height selected to supportthe body of the vehicle 61 in, the position desired for the removaloftrucks 2 8, which in operation would be disposed upon the rail sections12. The vehicle 61 is provided on its body structure with jacking pads69, usually of heavy cross section and disposed for engagement withlifting devices. To permit disengagement of the jack head 3| from thevehicle and atitlre same time to permit lifting of the vehicle byengagement withthe packing pads '69, I provide stirrups H having a flattop surface '12 and an,

opening 13 in the wall of, the stirrup ll opposite the flat surface 12,said opening 13 being shaped to engage'the boss 32. Atransverse opening14,. is also formed in the'stirrup in the 'shapeto receive theprojecting inner endfof the arms 65.

When it is desired to remove the trucks or axle assemblies from avehicle, thelatteris moved along the tracks 13 until thetruck for aX1.-s-.

sembly 68 is positioned on the rail sections 1101. the table H). Jackingpads 69 are aligned by movement of the vehicle vI5] with thebody sup-.port arms 66. The jacks 24 may be adjustedin, position relative to thetable II! in such manner that the jack heads 3| are in alignment withthe jackingpads 69, this beingpossibleregardless of variations in widthencountered in vehicles fabricated by diiferent manufacturers,

Before actuating the jacks 24, stirrups fll are placed on each of thejack heads 31 withthe boss 32 engaging the opening 13 in the stirrup.

tion with the opening 14 of the stirrups in line with the arms 66, thelatter are moved inwardly into the openings 14 and the jack heads 3|lowered by reverse operation of the motor 44. The jacks 24 are of suchdimension that in their collapsed position they can pass beneath thegirders 64, the stirrups ll remaining in engagement with the jacking pad69, and the arms 66 thus supporting the vehicle.

When the jacks 24 have been collapsed, the table II), with the jacks 24and the truck or axle assembly 68, may be moved transversely frombeneath the vehicle 61 into alignment with arelease track, where thetruck 68 is'dischar ed for repair and a repaired truck moved on to thetable. By reverse operation the, new truckis moved beneath the vehiclebody and the jacks 24 actuated to bring the jack head 3| and the boss 32into engagement with the stirrups H. While in this position, it issometimesnecessary to vary transversely the position of the truck 68with respect to the body of the vehicle 61. This may be accomplishedwithout difficulty by rotation of the screw 53,- which allows the jacks24-to remain stationary, but will move the table lfl in eitherdirection, as desired. Lateral alignment is, of course, attained bymovement of the although the form illustrated has proven highlyefiicient and satisfactory in use. Other variations of a minor naturewill be apparent to those skilled in the art and I do not thereforespecifically bind myself to the precise details illustrated exceptinsofar as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for use in servicing railway vehicles and the like, as byremoval of trucks and axle assemblies, and adapted for use in astructure having vehicle tracks extending along a floor, a shallowtransverse pit intersecting the tracks, and body support means near thepoint of intersection of the tracks and pit for a vehicle comprising twopairs of wheels movable on rails extending longitudinally along thefloor of a pit, a table mounted on the wheels and supporting laterallydisposed parallel rail sections for transverse movement with the tableinto alignment with one of the tracks, a pair of jacks carried by thetable and extending upwardly therefrom for lifting engagement with avehicle body, and means on the table for actuating said jacks.

2. Apparatus for us in servicing railway vehicles and the like, as byremoval of trucks and axle assemblies, and adapted for use in astructure having vehicle tracks extending along a floor, a shallowtransverse pit intersecting the tracks, and body support means near thepoint of intersection of the tracks and pit for a vehicle comprising twopairs of wheels movable on rails extending longitudinally along thefloor of a pit, a table mounted on the wheels and supporting laterallydisposed parallel rail sections for transverse movement with the tableinto alignment with one of the tracks, a pair of jacks carried by thetable and extending upwardly therefrom prising two pairs of. wheelsmovable on rails extending longitudinally along the floor of a pit, a

table mounted on the wheels and supporting laterally disposed parallelrail sections for transverse movement with the table into alignment withone of the tracks, a pair of transversely extending jack-supportingmembers carried by the table, two transversely spaced jacksmovablycarried by; said members and extending upwardly throughthe tableforlifting engagementwith the vehicle body, and means on the table foractuatin said jacks. l t. l 4. Apparatus for use in servicing railwayvehicles and the like, as by removal of trucks and axle assemblies, andadaptedfor use in-a structure having vehicle tracks extendingqalon -afloor, a shallow transverse pit intersecting the tracks, and bodysupport means near the point of intersection of the tracks and pit for avehicle comprising two pairs of wheels movable on rails extendinglongitudinally along the floor of a pit, a table mounted on the wheelsand supporting laterally disposed parallel rail sections for transversemovement with the table into alignment with one of the tracks, a pair ofspaced transversely extending jack support members on the table and apair 0f jacks movable transversely along the jack support members, saidjacks extending upwardly through the table for lifting engagement withthe vehicle body, each of said jacks including a base disposed below thetable for engagement with the bottom of the pit and resilient supportmeans between the jack and the jack support members for maintaining saidbase out of contact with the pit floor except when a load is applied tothe jack.

5. In an apparatus for use in servicing railway vehicles and the like ona track intersected by a shallow transverse pit, the combination of apair of body support girders extending over the pit on opposite sides ofth track, vehicle support arms movable inwardly from th girders forsupporting a vehicle body, a wheeled table movable alon rails in a pitand supporting rai1 sections for alignment with the track, a pair ofjacks carried by the table each having a minimum height selected topermit movement of the table and jacks beneath said body supportgirders, and stirrups for removably engaging the upper extremities ofsaid jacks, each of said stirrups having an opening transverse to saidjacks for receiving said body support arms and an upper surface forengagement with the vehicle body.

6. Apparatus for use in elevating a railway vehicle and the like, of thetype having jacking pads on the body thereof, into supporting engagementwith generally h0rizonta1 support arms movable inwardly from fixedsupport girders comprising a stirrup having a fiat external wall forengagement with a jacking pad on the vehrcle, a first opening in theexternal wall of the stirrup opposite the flat surface and shaped forreleasable engagement with the upper end of a jack and a second openingtransverse to the first opening for receiving the vehicle support arms.

7. In an apparatus for use in servicing railway vehicles and the like ona track intersected by a shallow transverse pit, the combination of apair of support girders spanning the pit, inwardly extending retractablesupport arms carried by the girders, a wheeled table movable along railsin the bottom of the pit and supporting rail sections for alignment withthe track between the girders, a pair of transversely extending jacksupport members on the table, a pair of collapsible jacks extendingupwardly through the table,

each having a collapsed height less than the height of the lower portionof said girder, each of said jacks having a base for engagement with thepit floor, arms pivoted at one end to the jack and at their opposite endto wheels engaging the jack supporting members, and resilient meansbetween said arms and the jack for maintaining the base out of contactwith the pit floor in the absence of load on the jacks, stirrups forremovably engaging the upper ends of the jacks, each of said stirrupshaving a fiat surface for engagement with the vehicle body, andtransverse openings 'for engagement with'said supporting arms, and meansfor moving at least one of the jacks transversely with respect to thetable.

ing the vehicle, the collapsed height of the jacks being less than theminimum height of the support means, and a detachable member for eachjack, said members each being shaped for interposition between the upperportion of the jack and the vehicle and for engagement with the arms ofsaid support means.

CLYDE C. GRIFFITHS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 304,562 Ramsey Sept. 2, 1884 366,302 Cameron July 12, 18872,454,225 Skinner Nov. 16, 1948 2,520,969 Holdeman Sept. 5, 1950

